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ONSIDKRATIONS 



RESPRI'TFULI.Y SniMITTKI) TO THE 



CITIZENS OF BOSTON AND CHARLESTOWN, 



PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF THESE TWO CITIES. 





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JOS I A 11 QUTXCY, SEN. 




BOSTON: 




PRINTED BY .JOHN WILSON AND SON, 




22, Sciiooii Strkkt. 




1854. 



iMi3 'OS 



CONSIDERATIONS 



ItESl'KCTFllLI.Y SniMl'lTKH 1(1 Tli; 



CITIZENS OF BOSTON AND CHARLESTOWN. 



PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF THESE TWO CITIES. 



JOSIAH QUINCY, SEN. 



BOSTON: 

PRINTED BY JOHN "WILSON AND SON, 

22, ScHooi. Street. 

1854. 



€ 4-0 * 



CONSIDERATIONS. 



The question of the annexation of Chaiiestown to 
Boston is to be decided on the 25 th day of this 
instant September, finally, so far as respects this me- 
tropolis, by the votes of its inhabitants. It is a 
subject of some surprise, considering the nature and 
importance of this question, to perceive the compa- 
rative silence of the newspapers, and the apparent 
apathy of the citizens. This surprise has been in- 
creased by the fact, that every thing bearing the 
semblance of argument in favor of the project has 
been drawn from local pride, pecuniary interest, or 
territorial accommodation, — all of them the last, the 
least, and the lowest considerations w^hich, on a ques- 
tion of this character, ought to enter the minds of 
statesmen and patriots. 

I have carefully read and considered all the argu- 
ments adduced by the advocates of this measure, as 
they have appeared in the newspapers of most general 
circulation ; and I have not found one of a solid, prac- 
tical character. All of them are so far-fetched, so 

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forced in their appliciition to the design, and so 
shadowy in their devekipment in the advantages 
resulting from it, that it is scarcely possible to reply 
to them seriously. One writer says, that " Boston is 
so restricted m point of territory, that all the business- 
men are moving out of it." Suppose this is the 
truth, how does the annexation proposed help us in 
the difficulty 1 Would they, in such case, move into 
Charlestown ? Cannot they do this now, if they 
could find their convenience in it ? Another : " The 
gigantic granite stores building in Boston evidences 
the want of space. If Boston had more space, its 
stores woidd be lower, spread over more surface, and 
be more convenient." As if the height of these stores 
was not the consequence of the natural concentration 
of business in particular localities ! By uniting with 
Boston, would Charlestown concentrate in itself these 
natural advantages, or approximate one rod nearer 
those desirable localities ? Another writer urges, 
that, " if Boston had a wider space, its money-capital 
would have a wider sphere in which to act." How 
will annexation make Charlestown a more eligible 
place for Boston capital to act in than it is at this 
moment ? But it is suggested there is a great power 
in the name of Boston. "After annexation, the lands 
of Charlestown will be in Boston." What then 1 Is 
a rose made sweeter by changing its name 1 It is 
useless to recapitulate other of these arguments : the 
above is a fair example of them all, with only one 
exception, which presents a key to the whole project. 
It is said that " nature has limited the territorial 
expansion of Boston ; that her dignity suffers by 
having so few numbers ; that foreigners would regard 



Boston with greater respect and interest, if her num- 
bers were greater, and if she occupied a wider space." 
As if the weight and vahie of cities were to be ascer- 
tained, like those of beef-cattle, by the scales ! — as if 
the intelligence, acti-vity, social and moral qualities, 
their punctuality in business, the wealth they manage 
and command, were not the real elements by which 
cities are honored, yalued, trusted, and compared ! 
And what city stands higher in these respects at this 
moment, or has stood through the entire period of its 
existence, than the city of Boston 1 

The project has been openly avowed, and it is con- 
fidently expected, that, when Charlesto-\\Ti is joined to 
Boston, Roxbiuy, Brookline, Cambridge, and Chelsea 
will follow, and perhaps Dorchester. How far this 
territorial aggrandizement shall extend, its projectors 
have not specified ; but they unquestionably intend, 
if possible, to rear about Charles River a gigantic 
metropolis, vying in numbers and extent with New 
York and Philadelphia ; from which they anticipate a 
proportionable increase of wealth, wisdom, strength, 
and influence. The superior magnitude, extent, and 
population of New York are not the result of the 
choice and policy of its inhabitants, but have been the 
efiect of the unexampled commercial advantages of its 
position ; and the recent augmentation of the size of 
Philadelphia, by the absorption of her suburbs, and 
of territory in her immediate vicinity, was not the 
result of her unbiassed choice. Those suburbs were 
not included in her ancient jurisdiction, and were 
some of them separated only by the width of a 
street ; and, though beyond her control, she became 
responsible for their riots, and consequently subjected 



to loss of peace and character. A friendly rivalry, 
which has existed from time immemorial between 
those cities, may also have favored the extension of 
Philadelphia ; but the example of neither can be 
judiciously cited or applied as a precedent for the 
city of Boston. 

The inhabitants of Massachusetts, especially those 
of Boston and its vicinity, ought never to let the 
example of any mass of population, whose antece- 
dents have no affinity with those of New England, to 
make population and extent the criterion of their 
character and dignity. Great cities Mr. Jefferson 
long ago* denominated " great sores ; " and, undoubt- 
edly, their tendency is not conducive to the morals or 
health of the body politic ; and they were, therefore, 
prevented from multiplying through the vnise organiza- 
tion of their society by the founders of New England. 

It remains for the present generation to decide 
whether they will continue to walk in the paths 
marked out by the intelligence and foresight of 
their ancestors, and maintain that happy division of 
their population into small communities with limited 
powers, of a size and extent easily to be watched over 
and managed by the people themselves, whereby any 
one collection of men has been prevented from acquu- 
ing, from its magnitude, its wealth, and its numbers, 
a controlling and overwhelming influence. 

On the manner in which this question of annexa- 
tion with Charlestown shall be decided by the votes 
of the city of Boston, will materially depend the future 
prosperity and character of the State of Massachusetts, 
not less than those of the inhabitants of this city. It 
will unavoidably lead the State to new social organi- 



zations. If a great city grows up in one locality, the 
real or apparent increase of its influence and power 
will require to be counteracted by the establishment 
of one or more great cities in other localities. Politi- 
cal contests will thenceforth be conducted by great 
municipal corporations, abundant in wealth, and un- 
scrupulous in theu- use of it for obtaining political 
supremacy for theii* o\vn interests; and, in conse- 
quence, taking political influence and power out of 
the hands of the honest and virtuous many, and 
placing it in those of the intriguing and unprincipled 
few. 

The social organization established by the wisdom 
of our ancestors in New England was as true to prin- 
ciple as it has been liappy and prosperous in result. 
It was democratic in its character and influence. The 
whole population was divided into small political 
municipalities, called " towns ; " each of them, in fact, 
small republics, with limited powers, out of which 
emanated the political leaders of the great republic 
called " the State or Commonwealth," who came pre- 
pared and educated for the management of the greater, 
by the knowledge they had acquired, and the skiU 
they had exemplified, in the less. In these small 
municipalities, each inhabitant was taught to know 
something of the public interests, to exercise a watch- 
fulness over them, to require of those conducting 
them pui'ity of motive, honesty of purpose, skilfulness 
in management of those interests ; thus creating and 
exemplifying in each locality those qualities and vir- 
tues which, when transferred to the counsels of the 
Commonwealth, infused into them that intelligence, 
wisdom, practical skill, and those virtues, which are 



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adapted to render a people prosperous, Jiappy, and 
progressive. 

Now, can these happy influences and qualities be 
continued and preserved, when these municipalities 
are lost, by being crushed into one gross, mighty 
mass, including great and numerous rival, personal, 
and local interests ; each striding for ascendency, every 
moment tempting the managers of the municipality 
to selfish intrigues and vicious compromises for par- 
ticular success? Can the mterests of such great 
municipalities be understood or comprehended by the 
multitude of inhabitants of which it is composed 1 Is 
not the effect, necessarily, of such great political com- 
munities, to remove the people, who constitute then* 
inhabitants, from any distinct knowledge of their con- 
cerns, and from any efficient opportunity to influence 
measures often vital to their true interests, except 
through the medium of election of rival parties, which 
often only leaves them the choice of being crushed by 
the upper or the lower millstone ? Is not the exist- 
ence of these great cities as little reconcilable vnih. 
the spirit of republicanism as it is with the predomi- 
nancy of soimd principle 1 Is not the direct tendency 
of thus bringing into one concentrated power, wealth, 
numbers, and territorial extent, to encourage and 
excite into action the artful, the intriguing, the im- 
principled, and the desperate"? Does the history of 
New York, during the few years past, give any en- 
couragement to the belief that cities overweeningiy 
great are hot-beds adapted to promote the propitious 
growth of public virtue, personal honesty, or political 
integrity "? Are we not cfilled upon daily to witness 
the recklessness of public men entrusted with the 



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management of great funds, and to be astonished at 
the boldness with which they transcend their powers, 
and the audacity with which they endeavor to hide 
their responsibiUty 1 And are the people of this com- 
monwealth, by establishing mammoth cities, prepared 
to withdraw from their o^\^l superintendence their 
most important concerns, and to place them still far- 
ther under such control^ I speak to mse men. I 
call upon the prudent to consider. 

If this proposed union of Boston and Charlestown 
be, in fact, intended to be confined to those two cities, 
and is not to proceed farther, then I ask first of the 
citizens of Boston, can they see any substantial benefit 
from multiplymg the objects of the care of our city 
authorities 1 Have our mayor and aldermen at pres- 
ent so few objects of attention as to make it desii-able 
to increase them'? Have not those officers at this 
moment as much to do as they can do well, or as it 
is reasonable to requii'e of them ] Or have our citi- 
zens become so incompetent, that it is expedient to 
call in aid from abroad to assist in the management of 
our concerns 1 As the afi'airs of a city become com- 
plex and involved, are they not proportionably placed 
beyond the reach of the oversight of the mass of its 
citizens 1 Are our taxes now so light that it A\dll be 
■wise in us to increase them for the purpose of extend- 
ing a helping hand to our neighbors '? 

Many other questions, of like bearing, might be 
asked ; but these are sufficient to excite the thoughts 
of my fellow-citizens of Boston. 

I next ask the citizens of Charlestown to consider 
what real benefit the mass of them can reasonably 
anticipate from this annexation. I can easily believe, 



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that there are many talented, active, aspiring young 
men in Charlestown, who have taken it into thek 
heads that their sphere of influence would be enlarged, 
their chances of greatness multiplied, by the union 
proposed; and who, in their dreams, realize the 
mayoralty of Boston, with four thousand dollars a 
year. But — these dreamers out of the question — 
how any citizen of Charlestown can even endure the 
thought of this annexation, is to my mind myste- 
rious. Is it possible that a majority of its intelligent, 
thoughtful, high-minded citizens can be found will- 
ing to sink the individuality of the ancient, highly 
respected, independent city of Charlestown, and con- 
sent to become a small, lower appendage to a great 
corporation in their neighborhood 1 Can it be believed 
that such men will throw away for ever, under any 
pretence of pecuniary advantage, the name of Charles- 
town, — a name bestowed by Winthrop, before Boston 
had existence, — a name associated with the first 
martyrs, and the most glorious monument of our Re- 
volution ; — Charlestown, the greatest sufferer in the 
cause of national independence, the mansions of 
whose citizens stand on the ruins of the dwellings 
of their fathers, which perished in flames enkindled in 
the cause of freedom ? By the energy of her sons she 
has risen, like a phoenix, from her ashes ; and now 
enjoys not merely the hope, but the actual possession, 
of historic immortality. Can the inhabitants of a city, 
crowned with such numerous and rare glories, throw 
them away as though they were common dust, to 
become a small, undistinguished part of a gigantic 
corporation, perhaps destined to absorb other commu- 
nities ] For my part, I believe that, when the subject 



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is presented for immediate and conclusive action, a 
majority of those inhabitants will start back with 
instinctive shame, if not horror, at the act they are 
about to commit. Some of them, I believe, would 
almost commit suicide as be guilty of it. 

It is well known that this project had its origin 
with a few active citizens of Charlestown, Avho ima- 
gined they saw certain prospective advantages from it, 
either to themselves or to that city. As it was chiefly 
got up for the benefit of Charlestown, it might have 
been anticipated that the inhabitants of that place 
would have been called first to act upon the question. 
A like proposition, I am told, having been rejected 
under the to^vn go-'/ernment, the managers of the 
scheme were apprehensive it would now meet with 
the same fate. They therefore have adroitly thrown 
the responsibility of first voting on the subject on the 
town of Boston, m the expectation that, if this city 
accepted the proposition, it Avould crush down all 
opposition in Charlestown, whose inhabitants would 
be thus left afterwards to accept or reject the project 
at their pleasiu'e. 

In this state of things, it behoves the citizens of 
Boston to reflect in what situation they will be placed, 
and how they will look and feel, if, after having de- 
liberately voted an union, the citizens of Charlestown 
should coolly reply that they thanked them for the 
ofler, but that they had thought better on the subject, 
and should vote to reject it. Could any thing be 
more humiliatmg'? Are the citizens of Boston pre- 
pared to take the chance of becoming a jest and a 
by-word to all future generations ? 



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